One-on-One with T.J. Stukes, aka Player 182 on ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’

December 6, 2023December 6, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

The time was just touching midnight at CBS Studios in Television City, Los Angeles, where a bevy of journalists, invited contenders, influencers, and celebrities had just gathered in celebration of Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge. We previously shared my conversations with the series’ most popular and remaining contestants, including mother/son duo LeAnn and Trey Plutnicki, Roland Hannigan, Spencer Hawkins, Bianca Sarafian, and many others. I also got to talk to my friend, T.J. Stukes.

Interview, Streaming1 Comment

The Game Gets Real with Netflix’s ‘Squid Game: The Challenge’ Experience

December 5, 2023December 6, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Once the sun went down over CBS Studios, the crown jewel of Television City in Los Angeles, the production house was converted into a massive escape room, in celebration of Netflix’s Squid Game: The Challenge — a reality spin-off contest based off the smash hit Korean series Squid Game, and featuring many of the games that make an appearance in the drama.

Interview, Poetry

Poetry, Community, and Deliverance: How KeiRock is Impacting Spoken Word

November 27, 2023November 27, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

It was November 19, and LA’s West Side was wrapped in a breeze uncharacteristic of a California night, but was a welcome interruption to the heatwaves the state is known for. The historic Odyssey Theater Ensemble, home of some of the city’s most multi-cultural plays and productions, housed the Sippin’ Poetry Slam Food Drive, hosted by the multi-hyphenated talent, poet, actor, and artist combo, Ahkei “KeiRock” Togun.

Streaming, Television

Music Mastermind Swizz Beatz Takes on Car Culture Across the Globe in Hulu’s ‘Drive’

November 15, 2023November 15, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

On a brisk Thursday night on Wilshire Boulevard, Petersen Automotive Museum’s uppermost floor became center stage as the outdoor, rooftop red carpet (green, in this case) unfolded beneath clear skies in anticipation of Hulu’s upcoming screenings of Drive with Swizz Beatz.

Reviews, Theatre

‘Rise’ is an Inspired Story of Love and Legacy

October 19, 2023October 23, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Theater is a wide and wonderful world; a place of imagination, depth, and hundreds, if not thousands, of years of historical relevancy. It’s given us the gift of Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, Shakespeare’s Hamlet, August Wilson’s Fences, and Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun, among so many other classics that have affected not just audience sensibilities but have helped frame and define stage storytelling and become mainstays of conventional cinema a well.

Interview, Theatre1 Comment

God Built Us Different: A Conversation with the Women of ‘Rise’

October 13, 2023October 16, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Pulled away from the Company of Angels Theater at Hazard Recreation Park as the lights were dimmed and the locks were shut after a lively post-production reception, and into the dark of the studio parking lot, I had the opportunity to discuss the makings of COA’s newest community play — Rise by Kimba Henderson — with the cast and creators themselves.

Interview, Movies, Sports

Ryan Coogler and Erick Payton Explore the Life and Times of Steph Curry in ‘Underrated’

July 21, 2023July 21, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

In anticipation of the upcoming sports documentary, Stephen Curry: Underrated, I had the chance to have a sit down with the film’s executive producers, Ryan Coogler and Erick Payton, to discuss the intricacies of the year-plus long shoot, what makes this a unique documentary among others in its class, and their views on the legacy of Steph Curry as well as his impact on the game.

Movies, Poetry

Mental Health Awareness Takes Center Stage at Get Lit’s ‘Our Worlds Collide’ Screening

May 28, 2023May 28, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Palm trees wrapped around the streets of Beverly Hills, and gorgeous golden rope lights wrapped around them, on the way to the exclusive William Morris Endeavour Screening Room, located near the heart of one of California’s most famous zip-codes.

Art, Poetry

Get Lit Closes Out Poetry Month with Annual Classic Slam Competition Finals

April 25, 2023April 26, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

After a record breaking cold spell across usually-sunny California, the customary 80-degree weather had begun to pick up again in mid April; as the sun set over South Broadway’s historic Ace Hotel Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, the golden views and massive crowds were a fitting way to welcome in students, poets, writers and songwriters from far and wide to the annual 2023 Classic Slam Competition Finals.

Interview, Movies

Scenes from the ILBE Gala Red Carpet in Beverly Hills

March 11, 2023March 17, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

A bevy of stars descended upon Beverly Hill’s high-end Tatel restaurant for the ILBE Gala on a lively Thursday night: organized by Dynamita Productions in association with Iervolino and Lady Bacardi Entertainment, the party celebrated the newly released movies The Ritual Killer, the Oscar-nominated Tell It Like a Woman, and Lamborghini: The Man Behind The Legend.

Interview, Streaming, Television

The Stars of ‘Bel-Air’ on Black Excellence and Representing for the Culture

January 18, 2023January 19, 2023 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

A cloudy evening over The Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena did nothing to hide the high spirits inside The Tap Room — the resort’s cocktail bar and lounge — where the cast of NBC/Peacock’s NAACP award-nominated series Bel-Air came both to cool down and celebrate, post red carpet, after a long day of photos and interviews just an hour earlier.

Fantasy, Interview

‘The Witcher: Blood Origin’ Cast and Crew on What to Expect from the Upcoming Spin-Off

December 21, 2022December 20, 2022 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Reporting bright and early from sunny California in November, I had the opportunity to sit down with the brilliant cast and crew of Netflix’s upcoming spin-off, The Witcher: Blood Origin — who checked in to the virtual junket live from the UK — to discuss all things new within the world of the hit series and just what it takes to follow up to a show as massive as the original seasons of The Witcher.

Fantasy, Streaming

Disney+’s ‘Willow’ at its Finest with Jonathan Kasdan and Michelle Rejwan

November 21, 2022November 22, 2022 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

On a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in Burbank, on the Walt Disney Studios lot — with the perfect weather for the day’s event: golden sunshine and just enough breeze — I had the very special honor of being invited to a screening of, and a Q&A with, the showrunner of Disney+’s upcoming Willow series, Jonathan Kasdan and executive producer Michelle Rejwan.

DC Comics, Movies

We Watched the New ‘Black Adam’ Trailer with the Justice Society

September 9, 2022September 9, 2022 Elijah Isaiah Johnson

Every once in a while, life gives you quick opportunities I like to call treats: I had the privilege last Wednesday to spend a toasty but beautiful afternoon on the Warner Bros. Burbank lot for a sneak preview of the now-recently-released Black Adam trailer and an intimate Q&A session with some of the leading cast of the upcoming action flick.